Addressing machine



4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 11, 1935 4 Shets-Sheet 2 H. P. ELLIOTTADDRESSING MACHINE Filed Feb. 11, 1955 Jul 27, 1937.

'IWUEI'LZO). Hm F" a m I July 27, 1937. H. P. ELLIOTT ADDRESSING MACHINE4 Sheets-Sheet Filed Feb; 1]., 1955 Jrzven 2'02.

July 27, 1937. H. P. ELLIOTT 2,088,468

ADDRESSING MACHINE Filed Feb. 11, 1955 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 F1 r"; J -1 1 lPatented July 27, 1937 UNITED STATES ADDRESSING MACHINE Harmon P.Elliott, Watertown, Mass. Application February 11,- 1935rseria1Nb. 5,944

38 Claims.

This invention relates to printing or addressing machines of the typewherein the printed data is carried by a series of data bearing devices,and

particularly by stencils.

5 This invention relates particularly to an addressing, machine adaptedfor printing tax lists for municipal and county purposes. For theprinting of tax lists the name of the property owner and a descriptionof the property owned by him is carried by the same stencil, the addressbeing above the description of the property. In

transferring the data of the stencils to ledger sheets or the like,however, the address and the property description are required to beprinted side by side in the same horizontal line. Hence an object'of thepresent invention is an improved machine for this'purpose.

The machine ofthe present invention is, particularly adapted forprinting the addresses and the property description side by side onledger sheets. For this purpose the machine is provided with twoprinting heads which are successively operable on the same stencil, onehead beingarranged to print the address portion only at; and the otherhead being arranged to print the property description portion only ofthe stencil, the sheet being advanced between successive printingoperations on the same stencil so as to position the address and theproperty description in the same horizontal line. In the printing ofseparate sheets as contrasted with printing the data on a sheet ofindefinite length the printing operation has to be modified at the startof each sheet in order for the address and property description to beprinted in proper order on the sheet. The same is true with respect tothe printing of the last data on the sheet. Hence it is a further objectof the invention to provide means for manually disabling the printingoperations of either one, and both, of the two printing heads at will.

Also for'the same purpose it is desirable to interrupt or disable thesheet feeding mechanism and the provision of improved means for thispurpose is another object of the invention.

A yet further object of the invention resides in the construction of themachine whereby it can also be adapted to the printing of duplicate taxbills from the same stencils used in printing the tax lists.

Tax lists have been printed heretofore by the use of two or morestencils for each owner of taxable property, one stencil bearing theaddress and the other, or others, the property descriptions. Theproperty description stencil did not contain (01. 10148) the owners nameand hence there was the liabilityofimproper listing if the "address andthe corresponding property description stencils became separated in thestencil collection. Hence, for c the, present-invention, a stencil isemployed hav- 5 ing a data bearing stencil sheet wide enough' to bearboth theaddressand theproperty descrip* tion. V

With such a stencil it becomes necessary to print only-the address atone printing opera- 10 tion and only the property description at anotherprinting operation. Such a stencil can not readily be usedwith, and suchpart printing j accomplished by; the cylindrical ink-bearing imep'ressijon roll heretofore employedit not being practical to compressthe roll sufficiently to cover the required width of'thedata-bearingportion ofthe stencil andto use a mask or the like to shield theunwanted part of the stencil from the roll, dueto' thepressure onythemask, .and for other reasons. I

Hence for'the' present invention, and as an object thereof, theimpression device is a flat some what resilient ink-bearingpad supportedand arranged in' such a way as to function in an entirely satisfactorymanner. A flat, pad has been'employed heretofore, but was so arrangedthat its fiatimpr'ession surface moved always parallel withthe face ofthe stencil. This arrangeirient'I have found not to be satisfactoryforuniform printing as air bubbles areentrapped be,- tWeen-thecontacting faces of'the pad and the stencil that prevent the, ink fromcovering the stencil uniformly. This action isparticularly troublesomewith broad contacting faces.

In accordance with my invention the flat pad, instead of being mountedformovement in parallel lines toward'and' away from the stencil, ismounted to swing in an arc toward and away fromjthe'stencil and thus toengage the stencil 46 progressively from one end to the other, therebyto squeeze out any air bubble that may-tend to form and to drive the airout in advance of the I line of contact, the pad being made ofsufiiciently yielding material to permit this action while exerting. asubstantially uniform pressure on the .stencilthroughout the contactingarea. i

A further object'is' to mount the impression pad so thatthe relationbetween its fiat-ink-bearing 50 surface and the stencil can be adjusted,or the pad levelled, to secure uniform printing of the data carried bythat part of the stencil with which itisbrought into pressure contact.

A further obje'ct'is generally to improve the construction and operationof an addressing machine.

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a machine embodying the presentinvention.

Fig. 2 is a sectional detail taken along line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a sectional detail of the operating mechanism of Fig. 2 takenalong line 22 of Fig. 1 but showing the operating mechanism in morecomplete form and also showing the selector mechanism.

Fig. 4 is a sectional detail taken along line 44 of Fig. 2 andillustrating especially the manually operable clutch connections betweenthe printing platens and the operating shaft.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a platen operating cam and itsassociated clutch mechanism.

Fig. 6 is a perspective detail of the sheet feed.

Fig. '7 is a plan detail of the pusher disabling mechanism.

Fig. 8 is a sectional detail of the printing head.

Fig. 9 is a perspective view of a printing head plate.

Fig. 10 is a perspective view of a stencil used in connection with thepresent invention.

Fig. .11 is a diagrammatic view of the relative positions of a tax listsheet and the printing heads and stencils.

Fig. 12 is a perspective detail, partly diagrammatic, ofthe printingheads and platens.

The machine embodying the present invention includes a horizontal tableI6 having a pair of parallel rails I8 constituting a stencil trackextended from one end to the other in spaced relation thereabove.Astencil holder 20 for a pile of superimposed stencils is disposed abovethe track at oneend of the table and a pusher 22 is arranged to move thesuccessive lowermost stencils of the pile out of the holder and alongthe track into and out of a printing position and thence into a stencilreceiver 24 that is located mainly below the track at the other end ofthe machine. 7

The machine is provided with two printing heads A and B, see especiallyFigs. 1, 2 and 12,

- which heads are located side by side above the stencil track and areadapted to act successively onthe same stencil in its successivepositions in the track. Said heads are carried by forwardly extendedarms 26 of a reciprocable loop frame 28 pivoted at 38 to a bracket 32disposed mainly beneath and secured to the table Hi, the pivotalconnection between the bracket and the loop frame being about at orsomewhat above the top line of the stencil track so that firm anduniform I engagement. between the entire printing face of operatingframe 28.

the-head and the stencil may be obtained. As the loop is underconsiderable strain when applying the printing pressure and thus isliable to bend at the ends, the bending is prevented by thrust, rollers28a, supported by the frame of the machine and bearing on arcuate pads28b of the loop at the ends thereof.

The heads are or can be identical in construction and but one will bedescribed. Each printing head includes a pair of generally horizontalsupporting arms 34, see especially Figs. 2 and 8, carried at their rearends by a pair of superposed rigid parallel rods 38 and 38 that areextended between and are carried by the arms 26 of the The engagement ofthe supporting arms with both of said rods serves to hold the arms rigidwith the arms 26 without relative pivotal movement therebetween. Animpression plate holder is disposed close under the arms 34 and hasupwardly extended bosses 4| through which the lowermost rod 36 passes.Said plate holder is secured to said arms by leveling screws 42 and 44.The screws 42 pass loosely through said arms 34 and are screw-threadedinto the plate holder 48. The screws 44 are screw-threaded in said armsand bear against the top of the impression plate holder 40'. By theprovision of the aforesaid screws 42 and 44 the impression plate holdercan be, levelled as by slacking off on a screw 42 and screwing down ascrew 44 so that the impression plate can make uniform contact over itsentire extent with the stencil.

The impression plate holder is provided at its sides with a pair of camplates 45 which are so arranged as to provide between them and under thelower face of the plate holder a dove-tailed slot 46 in which animpression plate 48 is retained removably. The impression plate, seeFigs. 8 and 9, comprises a flat metal plate 50, having inclined endfaces that fit removably within the dove-tailed groove 4'8 of theimpression plate holder and engage the cam plates 45. The upper face ofthe plate 59 is provided with a recess 52 adapted removably to receive alocking pin 54 that is vertically movable in the impression plate holder48 under urge of a plate spring 56. The impression plate is providedwith a handle 58 which is adapted to be grasped in inserting andremoving the impression plate into and out of its holder; and the spring56 is disposed in such position that it can be readily engaged andraised by a finger to free the holding pin 54 so that it will be raisedupon the withdrawing movement of the impression plate, thereby to permitthe removal of said plate. The. impression plate is provided with asufficiently resilient, as a rubber or equivalent, plate or pad 68 thathas an inkbearing raised portion 62 having a fiat stencil engaging facethat is as long as the data bearing portion of the stencil and as wideas a selected part of the data space of the stencil.

The stencil, see especially Fig. 10, consists of a frame 64 carrying astencil sheet 66 which is provided with an address-bearing zone 68 and azone 10 occupied by a description of the taxed property, the two zones68 and ill being located one above the other. j

The fiat raised portion 62 of the impression plate of the printing headB is located near the forward edge of the plate and is arranged to printthe tax description 10 only. Figs. 8 and 9 are illustrative of thisimpression plate. The printing head A has raised and depressed portions,corresponding to the raised and depressed portions 60 and 52,respectively, of Fig. 9, arranged in reverse order as is illustrated bythe dotted lines in Fig. 11, so as to print the address data 68 only ofthe stencil. Thus as the stencils are moved in successive order alongthe stencil track the printing head B will print the tax descriptions 18of the stencils and the printing head A will print the address data5580f the stencils.

The impression faces of the impression plates are inked by a pair ofrolls 12, one for each plate, journalled on a shaft 14, see especiallyFig. 2. disposed below the printing heads and extended between andsecured to arms 16 pivoted at 78 t0 downwardly extended swinging arms88. Said arms 80 at their upper ends are pivoted on stud screws 82secured to the forwardly extended ends of bracket arms 84 carried by andlocated above the table and head operating frame 28. A tensile spring 86is connected with the arms 80 and biases them for movement in aclockwise direction to carry the inking rolls I2 forwardly across theprinting faces. This movement, however, is under control of a pair oflinks 88; the lower ends of which are pivoted by screws 90 each to aseparate printing head A, B. Said links extend upwardly in overlyingrelation with the arms Bil and are provided with elongated slots 92therein in which are disposed slide blocks 9i pivoted on pins 96 fixedto said arms 80. Adjusting screws 98' are screw-threaded in said armsand are adapted at times to bear against the lower faces of said blocks94. The vertical movements of the printing heads move the links 88 andthe screws 98 downwardly and upwardly and thus control the swingingmovements of the arms 80. As a matter of fact, however, the screws 98are relied upon principally to determine the limits to the swingingmovements of said arms 80 and thereby the stroke of the inking rolls I2.The main swinging movement of the arms 80 is obtainedby cam rollers I08carried by said links 88', which rollers bear upon cam faces I02 on thelower or inner faces of the arms 88 and thereby effect the swingingmovements of said arms.

Ink is supplied to the inking roll I2 by a cylindrical and rotatable inkreservoir I04 carried by pivoted arms lilii and bearing upon theperiphery of an axially reciprocable continuously-rotated spreading rollI ll? which is in driving engagement with the surface of a cylindricaltransfer drum I08, each printing headhaving a separate ink supplyspreading roll and a transfer drum. Ink from the surface of eachtransfer drum is conveyed to the inking rolls i2 by a series of conveyorrolls H0, H2, H4, journalled on rods IIii extended between and carriedby depending arms II8 pivoted to the bracket arms 84 by the aforesaid.

screws 82. Each transfer drum has associated With it a set of theaforesaid conveyor rolls. The supporting rods for the rolls III I I2,are loosely mounted in the arms IIB so that rolling contact between theconveyor rolls is assured. The uppermost set of conveyor rolls IIIengages the transfer drum in such a location that the series of conveyorrolls are maintained in a position illustrated in Fig. 2 in front of theprinting heads. On each swinging movement of the inking roll I2 they arebrought momentarily in rotating contact with the lowermost conveyorrolls I I4, which rolls supply ink to the inking rolls. The constructionof the inking mechanism herein described is described in greater detailand is claimed in my copending application Serial No. 5,945 filedFebruary 11, 1935. p

The arrangement of the printing head is so arranged that, as it swingsdownwardly above the pivot 3i] toward the stencil, the heel of theresilient impression pad or plate 60, or that part nearer the pivot 30,first makes engagement with the stencil and yields to permit the line ofcontact to advance in a progressive manner to the toe of the pad. Thismanner of contact sweeps out air that otherwise might be entrappedbetween the contacting surfaces and hence permits uniform printing to beobtained. The angle that the ink-bearing face of the pad makes with-thestencil at the initial contact with the stencil need be but slight, sothat the pressure between the pad and the stencil, when in full contact,can be substantially uniform throughout. The proper setting of the padis obtained by proper adjustment of the leveling screws 42, 44.

A printing head as thus described is-disclosed but-"not claimed in mycopending application Serial No. 697,407, filed November 10, 1933;

- The operating mechanism for the printing elements includes anoperating shaft I20, see especially Figs. 1', 2, 3, and 4, journalled indownwardly extended arms I22, see especially Figs. 2 and 4, of theaforesaid bracket 32 beneath the table. I6. Said shaft is reciprocatedby means including a sector I24 which is fixed to said shaft and ispivotally connected to the upper end of a connecting rod I26, see Figs.1 and 3, whichconnecting rod isreciprocated by a power plant I28 ofcommon construction unnecessary to describe in greater detail hereexcept to state that the reciprocation of the connecting rod iscontrolled by a foot pedal I30, the depression and immediate release ofsaid pedal effecting acomplete outward and return stroke of saidconnecting rod. The sector I24 is connected through a latch I25 with anop erating arm I2'I that is fixed to the shaft I20 so that reciprocationof said sector when latched to said arm also effectsthe conjointreciproca tion of said arm. The engagement of the latch is controlled byselector controlled mechanism illustrated in Fig. 3 of a well knownconstruction not necessary to explain in detail. The arm I21 isconnected through a toggle linkage I29 to;

the depending arm 28 of the printing head frame 28 and straightens toexert a strong printing pres-' sure on the engaged stencil and worksheet.

The printing mechanism includes a pair of platens I 32, each platencooperating with a sepa-; rate head A and B, and having a flat upperface that is about coextensive with the area of the stencil sheet of thestencil. carried by the forward ends of arms I34 pivoted to the frame ofthemachine. The platens are reciprocable in a vertical direction throughopenings in the table It into a position to hold a work sheet closeunder the stencil sheet of a stencil, thereby to support it against theprinting pressure of a printing head during the printing op eration.

' The reciprocatcry movements of the two heads are controlled by camsitt, i238, see especially Said platens are Fig. 4, dis-posed upon andreciprocated by-the shaft I20. Each cam is provided with a forwardlyextended portion Mi? which is free to ride under a cam roller I42, seeespecially Fig. 3, of the platen without reciprocating the platen. Thecam is also provided with operating portion I44 that serves to raise theplaten into its elevated working position. The cam is further providedwith an elevated dwell portion I46 that permits further movement of thecam member while maintaining the platen in elevated posi tion.

The cams I36 and it are loose upon the shaft I20 and are clutchedthereto by manually operable clutch mechanism which is the same inconstruction for each cam member. With respect to the cam member I36 theclutch mechanism,see especially Figs. 4 and 5, includes a narrow plateI48 which is secured to the hub of the cam member and is extendedparallel with the shaft I20 and has a forwardly extended handle I50disposed in position conveniently to be grasped by an operativestandingat the front of the machine. A latch member I52 is pivotallyconnected at I54 with the handle member and has the part I56 that isparallel with the plate 148 and carries a clutch pin I58; Said pin isextended loosely through a hole in the plate HlIl and is adapted toenter an axial slot Hillin a collar I62 fixed to the operating shaftIZOadjacent the cam member. Thus when the clutch pin I58 is located inthe slot of the collar the cam member and the shaft are restrained forconjoint reciprocatory movement. When, however, the clutch pin iswithdrawn from the notch of the collar the cam member is operativelydisconnected from the operating shaft so that said shaft can oscillatewith the corresponding movement of the cam member. The arrangement issuch that when the cam member is to be disconnected from the operatingshaft the clutch handle is grasped and the latch I52 depressed againstthe action of the spring I64 to pull the clutch pin out of the notch ofthe collar. The handle is then raised upwardly to swing the cam memberI86 in a clockwise direction until the clutch pin engages a stop I66 ofthe collar or until the cam member has been moved into the dotted lineposition, as shown in Fig. 2. The tail I40 of the cam member issufficiently long to permit this displaced position of the cam memberwithout moving it out from under its cooperating platen. In thisdisplaced position of the cam member the reciprocation of the operatingshaft can take place without moving the cam in a counterclockwisedirection, as viewed in Figs. 2 and 3, sufliciently far to effect theraising of the platen into printing position. Thus the printing head candescend upon a stencil without effecting the printing thereof. The camI38 is similarly provided with a handle I68 and similar clutch mechanismfor controlling the connection of the cam member with the operatingshaft. The reasons for the clutch connection between the operating shaftand the cam members will be explained hereinafter.

The reciprocatory movement of the stencil pusher 22 is effected by thereciprocatory movement of the sector arm I24. A vertically pivoted hubI16, see Figs. 1 and '1, has a horizontally extended arm which isterminated in the cam slot I12 of the sector I24 and the arrangement issuch that the reciprocatory movement of the sector causes acorresponding reciprocatory movement of said hub I16. Said hub isprovided with a horizontal and forwardly extended arm I14 that ispivoted at its forward end of a link I16 that at its other end has alongitudinally disposed slot I18 therein, which slot at its extreme endis provided with a lateral extension I80. A pin I82 of said pusher isdisposed in said slot I18 and in the normal operation of the machine isdisposed in the lateral extension I8!) thereof so that the reciprocatorymovements of the links I16 effect the corresponding movements of thepusher. The link and pin are normally held in such relation by a pivotedarm I84 carrying rolls I86 and I88. The roll I86 engages the slotted endof the link I16 and the other roll engages a multi-lobed cam I96. Whenthe roller I88 is located in a depression between the lobes of said camthe link I16 is held in operative engagement with the pusher. When,however, said cam is rotated to move one of said lobes against said rollI88 such movement causes the slot I18 of the link I16 to be aligned withthe pin I82 and thereby to effect the disengagement of said link andpusher. Thus a printing operation can be effected without a stenciladvancing operation. The rotation of the lobed cam I96 is under controlof a link I92 reciprocated by the arm I14. The mechanismis not necessaryto describe except to state that it is used when the machine is arrangedto print duplicate or triplicate tax bills in which event the cam I90will be rotated by one-half the distance between two consecutive lobesfor each two or three printing operations depending upon whetherduplicate or triplicate bills are made.

In connection with the clutch mec m r controlling the printing operationof the two printing heads it is also desirable to control the stencilfeeding operation and at times to prevent the feeding of a stencil. Thiscontrol is man: ually effected by the operator of the machine. For thispurpose the machine is provided with a foot pedal I94, see especiallyFig. 1, pivoted to the frame of the machine intermediate its ends andconnected at the other side of its pivotal support with an upwardlyextended link I96, which link at its upper end is pivotally connected toa forwardly extended arm I98 of a shaft 280 journalled in a bracket 202,depending from the lower face of the table I2 in front of the operatinglink I16 for the pusher. Said shaft 260 has an upwardly extended arm 264fixed thereto. Said arm at its upper end carries a roller 286 thatisdisposed in front of and is adapted to cooperate with an extension 268of the arm I84. The arrangement is such that when the pedal member I94is depressed said roller 206 is moved into engagement with the extension268 to cause said arm I84 to swing outwardly about its pivot anddisplace the pusher operating link I16 sufficiently to bring the slotI18 thereof into line with the pin I82 of the pusher, thereby todisconnect said link and pusher so that a printing operation can beeffected without a corresponding stencil advancing operation. I

A work sheet M6 is adapted to be disposed upon the table I6, seeespecially Fig. 2, under the stencil track and above the platen and tobe advanced toward the rear of the machine by a distance correspondingat least to the width of one of the data bearing portions of the stencilat each printing operation. The sheet advancing means comprises a shaft2I2, see especially Figs. 1, 2 and 6, rotatably supported above thetable in the rear of the stencil track. Said shaft has feed rolls 2I4fixed thereto. Idler rolls 2I6 cooperate with said feed rolls inpressing the sheet against the feed rolls. Said idler rolls are disposedbelow the feed rolls and are journalled on said arms 2 I8 of a leverthat is pivoted intermediate its ends on a shaft 220 carried by abracket 222 fixed to the under side of the table. Said lever has aforwardly extended end 224 which is pressed downwardly by a helicalspring 226 to hold the idler rolls 2 I 6 normally against the sheet inengagement with the feed rolls 2| 4. It is at times desirable to disablethe sheet feed under control of the operative. To this end a foot pedal228, see Fig. 1, is provided, the pedal being connected by a link 236 toan arm 232 fixed to a shaft 234 journalled in a bracket 286 secured tothe under side of the table. The shaft 234 has an arm 238 fixed theretothat terminates in a roller 240 disposed under the forwardly extendedend of the idler roll supporting lever 2I9. Thus when the pedal 228 isdepressed the rod 236 is raised, causing the roll 240 to bear againstthe under side of the lever and rotate it in a clockwise direction,thereby moving the idler rolls away from cooperative relation with thefeed rolls and stopping the advance of the sheet.

The feed rolls 2I4 are advanced in an intermittent or step by stepmanner by mechanism now old in the art. The feed roll shaft 2I2 isconnected by gearing 242 to a shaft 244 having a one-way clutch orrotation mechanism 246 of ..2,0.8 =,68 which one element is secured, tothe shaft 244 and the iother element is secured to the crank 248. Thecrankis pivotally connected to a link 250, having a pivotalconnectionwith an arm 2.52 .of. .the reciprocating operating frame 28 for .the

rrespondingmovement. of said ,rolls.

Fig. .11 illustrates. a tax list sheet adapted to be printed by themachine as above described. Said sheetv 2I0. is provided with twovertical columns 154 and 256, each column having aseries of verticallyarranged print receiving sections 258 that are.arrangedinhorizontalline. The spacing of the columns. is such that they can be positionedbeneath the two printing heads .A ,and B to receive the data of saidheads. The left hand column 254 is adapted to receive the ,addressesfrom the address zone 68 of the stencil and the right hand column 256 isadapted tore- .ceive the propertyrdescription from the zone I6 .01" thestencil. The address of any one stencil is adaptedto beprinted in theleft hand column and the property description of the same stencil in theright hand column, the address and the property description beingdisposed in the same horizontal line, although in the stencil .theaddress and the description are in vertical line. For this purpose thetax description is printed in the right hand column by the printing headB. The. stencil is then moved into position under the printing head Aand the work sheet {this advanced. by the width of one column, therebypositioning the address data of the stencil under the stencil printinghead over the left hand column to apply the address data in thesamehorizontal line with the tax description.

The clutch mechanisms that control the effective operation of theprinting platens I 32 are desirable atrthe beg nni g of printing a newsheet and at the end of the printing of a sheet when the last. line of asheet is being printed. A stencil entering the first printing positionunder the printing head B has its tax description datarecorded ,in theright hand column. The stencil is then advanced to the printing head Aand the sheet is advanced one line. At the next printing operation theaddress corresponding to the pre viouslygprinted tax description data isapplied bythat stencil in the left hand column. The movement of thestencil from the head B to the head Ais, however, accomplished by movinganother-stencil under the printing head Band if aprinting operation wereeffected upon this second-stenciL-the property description data of thatstencil would-be printed on the sheet below the column or the sheetwould be smudged. Hence the printing mechanism associated with-the headB is disabled at the time of printing the last line of the left handcolumn. This is effected by manipulating .the clutch handle I68 todisengagetheplaten operating cam I38 from the operating shaft I20, andraising the handle to rotate-the cam out of operative relation with theplaten. Thus while both printing heads may descend during the printingoperation printing willibeeifected only from the left hand stencil.

The position of. the stop pin I66 associatedwith the ,clutch handle I68is such that the shaft I20 atthe end of its stroke positions the notchin theclutch ,collar. I62 in line with the clutch pin 1 58 so that theclutch after having been manually-disconnected is-automaticallyre-engaged, .At

the-sametime that the clutch mechanism-is disengaged the stenciladvancing mechanism is also disabled, so, that the printing operationcan be effectedwithout an associated stencil advancing mechanism,itbeing necessarywthat the second stencil be retained under theprintinghead B 1. to printon the top lineof-the next sheet to beinserted. The disabling of theprinting mechanism is accomplished bydepressing the lever I 94' in the manner hereinbefore described. Thuswhen the address in the last line of the left hand column ofthe sheet isto be-printed' theflplaten of the righthand printing head Bisdisablediand the stencil advancing mechanism is-also disabled. When anew sheet is insertedinplaceof the filled sheet theright hand .clutchmechanism .is .restored to its normal driving engagement and the stenciladvancing mechanism is also restoredtoits normal operative condition sothat the second stencil: can print its tax data in the .top line-ofthe-right hand column of the new sheet. .If, hoWever,-a printing.voperationrwas'performed on both the 'fir'stand the second stencils, thefirst stencilhaving had its address applied to the bottom ofthe'previous sheet, this same :address would be-applied to the .newsheet above thef rst line andthus damagethesheet. Hence the left'handclutch mechanism is operated to prevent the operation of the printingplaten associated with the left hand printing head A. Thusfor beginningthe printing of a new sheet the left hand clutch mechanism is thrown outfor one printing operation and forterminating printingj the tax listsheets. -Tothisend= one of the printing heads, preferably thefprintinghead B, has its impression ,platew48 replaced by one, not necessary toillustrate, that :bearsuponthe stencil .over itsfullactive face so thatboth the addressandthe property list are printedrat the same operation.The other printing head is permanently. disabled 1 by maintaining itsclutch in disengaged position. The machine is. provided with:selectormechanism 260,.:see -Fig. 1, now more or less common in theart,- which, 3 under the control ofthe'stencils,-.controls=the"energization of an electromagnet -262-thatactuates mechanism 264,-.see Fig. 3, that 'in-.turn con-" trols theI engagement and disengagement: of the latch- I25 which connects theoperating sector I24.with the operating annIZ'I-for the shaftJI'ZUi Eachstencil may have a selector perforation 266, see Fig. 10, and theselector mechanism may have one selector pin 268,whichregisters-.withrthe perforations so as toeifectja :printingoperation when the pin canpass into'aperforation. By inverting thestencils of the collection as the tax .bills are paid," the machine.lwilboperate to print tagcwbills only for those addresses that have notbeen inverted. v r I I claim:

11., In-anaaddressing.machinei of the type op- I erable :upona'succession; of printing devices and having-zmeans tozsuppcrtthesnceessive devices in; printinghposition, the combination-vtherewithof-a printing head comprising a swinging frame having an arm movabletoward and away from said supporting means, an impression plate holdercarried by said arm, and an impression plate carried removably by saidholder, said impression plate holder and said impression plate having aninterfitting tongue and groove connection, said holder having manuallyreleasable means locking said plate removably to said holder, an inkroll adapted to travel forwardly and rearwardly over the face of saidimpression plate,

and inking means for said ink roll comprising a pivoted conveyor framehanging in frontof said impression plate and havingink conveyor rollsthe lowermost one of which is adapted to be engaged by said ink roll inthe forward part of its movement, said frame being capable of swingingupwardly away from positlon in front of said impression plate to permitengagement and withdrawal thereof from said holder.,

of a printing head comprising a swinging frame having an arm movabletoward and away from said supportingmeans, an impression plate holdercarried by said arm, and an impression plate carried removably bysaidholder, said impression plate having a handle which upstands infront of said plate holder and said plate holder having means operativeto lock said plate releasably to said holder, manually operative meansdisposed adjacent said handle for releasing the lock on said plate, anink roll adapted to travel forwardly and rearwardly over the face ofsaid impression plate, and inking means for said ink roll comprising apivoted conveyor frame hanging in front of said impression plate andhaving ink conveyor rolls the lowermost one of which is adapted to beengaged by said ink roll in the forward part of its movement, said framebeing capable of swinging upwardly away from position in front of saidimpression plate to permit engagement and withdrawal thereof from saidholder.

3. An addressing machine of the type operable upon acollection ofprinting devices and having means to support the successive devices inprinting position; the combination therewith of a printing headcomprising a swinging frame having a pair of forwardly extended armsmovable toward and away from said supporting means, a pair of spacedrods extended between and carried by said arms, and impression platesupporting means carried by said rods.

4. An addressing machine of the type operable upon a collection ofprinting devices and having supporting means for the successive devicesin printing position, the combination therewith of a swinging printingframe having a plurality of spaced forwardly extended arms movabletoward and away from said supporting means, a pair of rods extendedbetween and carried by all of said arms, and an impression platesupporting means carried by said rods between each pair of arms.

5. In a stencil printing machine, the combination of a resilientink-bearing impression pad and a platen disposed on opposite sides ofthe stencil, an angularly swinging arm movable toward and away from thestencil and carrying said pad, the pad moving angularly of the stencilwith said arm, said pad having a resilient flat ink-bearing andstencil-engaging face and being so mounted that it initially angularlyengages the stencil and upon continued movement toward the stencilengages the stencil in a progressive pressure applying manner and yieldsin engagement therewith and finally engages the stencil over the fullarea of the pad with substantially uniform pressure throughout. a

6. In an addressing machine of the type operable on a stencil, thecombination of a resilient impression pad having a fiat ink-bearingstencilengaging face, and an angularly swinging arm carrying said padrigid therewith and operative to efiect the initial angular engagementbetween said pad and stencil at one edge of said flat face and thereuponto compress said pad and to progressively advance the area ofengagementbetween said face and stencil until the pad engages throughoutits effective area with the stencil and exerts pressure uniformlythereover,

7. An addressing machine of the type adapted to print addressescontained in a collection of stencils or similar printing devices onlong sheets, including a printing frame in the form of a horizontal loopthrough which the sheet is adapted to pass, pivotal supporting means forthe loop engaged with the middle portion of the bottom part thereof,printing means carried by the middle portion of the upper part of theloop, toggle means for reciprocating the loop, and means bearing againstthe ends of the loop in a direction to resist deflection thereof underthe action of saidtoggle means. 1

8. A stencil addressing machine including a work supporting anvil on oneside of the stencil normally movable into and out of work supportingposition, a printing head on the other side of the stencil having a flatface movable into and out of engagement with the stencil, means fornormally reciprocating said printing head and anvil, and means fordisabling the operation of said anvil while permitting reciprocation ofsaid printing head. I

9. An addressing machine as in claim 8, said anvil disabling means beingcontrollable at the willof theoperative.

10. An addressing machine operative upo stencils comprising ananvildisposed on one side of the stencil normally reciprocable into andout of a work supporting position, a printing head on the other side ofthe stencil having a'flat face reciprocable into and out of engagementwith the stencil, means normally operative to reciprocate said printinghead and anvil conjointly, and means operative to arrest thereciprocatory movement of said anvil alone.

11. An addressing machine operative upon stencils comprising an anvildisposed on one side of the stencil normally reciprocable into and outof a Work supporting position, a printing head on the other side of thestencil having a fiat face reciprocable into and out of engagement withthe stencil, means normally operative to reciprocate said printing headand anvil conjointly, and means operative to arrest the reciprocatorymovement of said anvil alone with said anvil positioned away from itswork supporting position.

12. An addressing machine operative upon stencils comprising a worksupporting anvil disposed on one side of the stencil and reciprocableinto and out of work supporting position, a printing head on the otherside of the stencil having a fiat face reciprocable into and out ofengagement with the stencil, mechanism for reciprocating said anvil andprinting head normally conjointly, including means for reciprocatingsaid anvil, andmeans for disabling said anvil reciprocating meanswhereby to hold said anvil alone out of its Work supporting positionduring the reciprocatory movement of said printing head. 13. Anaddressing machine operative upon stencils comprising an anvil disposedon one side of the stencil and reciprocable into and out of a worksupporting position, a printing head on the other side of the stencilhaving a flat face'reciprocable into and out of engagement with thestencil, mechanism for reciprocating said head and anvil including anoscillating cam for reciprocating said anvil, and means for preventingthe. reciprocation of said anvil including means for operativelydisconnecting said cam from said reciprocating mechanism, said mechanismbeing operative to reciprocate said printing head when said cam isdisconnected.

.14. An addressing machine operative upon stencils comprising an anvildisposed on one side of the stencil and reciprocable into and out of awork supporting position, a printing. head on the other side of thestencil having .a flat face reciprocable into and out of engagement withthe stencil, mechanism for reciprocating said head and anvil normallyconjointly, and means for preventing the reciprocation of said anvilindependently of said printing head, including an oscillatory shaft, anoscillatory cam oscillated by said shaft, and means for disabling theoperative connection between said cam and shaft.

15. An addressing machine comprising an anvil reciprocable into and outof work supporting position, a printing head reciprocable into and outof work engaging position, mechanism operative to reciprocate saidplaten and printing head normally conjointly including an-oscillatingcam for reciprocating said printing head, an oscillating shaft forreciprocating said cam, and a disconnectible clutch connection betweensaid cam and shaft. i

16. An addressing machine comprising an. anvil reciprocable into and outof Work supporting position, a printing head reciprocable into and outof work engaging position, mechanism operative to reciprocate saidplaten and printing head normally conjointly including an oscillatingcam for reciprocating said printing head, an oscillating shaft forreciprocating said cam, and a disconnectible clutch connection betweensaid cam and shaft, said clutch connection being normally set to effecta driving engagement between said cam and shaft, said mechanism h'av-.ling an operative connection with said printing head. to reciprocate itwhen said clutch connection is disconnected.

. 17. An addressing machine adapted for operation upon a collection ofprinting devices comprising a guideway along which a succession ofprinting devices are moved in endwise contact through printingpositions, a holder for a stack ofprinting devices, means for deliveringsuccessive devices from said holder into said guideway andfor applyingpressure endwise of the line of the printing devices successively fromone to the other of said printing mechanisms, means for effecting theconjoint printing operation of both mechanisms upon successive printingdevices,

and means for preventing the printing operation of one of said printingmechanisms while permitting'the printing operation of the otherprintingmechanism and the operation of said delivering and advancing means.

18. Anaddressing machine adapted for operation upon a collection ofprinting devices comprisinga guideway along which a succession ofprinting devices are moved in endwise contact through printingpositions, a holder for a stack ofprinting devices, means'fordeliveringsucc'es sive devices from said holder into said guideway andfor applying pressure endwise of the line of devices in said guidewayfor advancing them therealong, two printing mechanisms operable on thesuccessive printing devices, said delivering and advancing means beingoperable to advance the printing devices successively from one to theother of said printing mechanisms, means for effecting the conjointprinting operation of both means forpreventing the operation thereof,both operation preventing means being operable each independently of theother.

21. An addressing machine for printing in a horizontal line datacontained in a vertical column on a printing devicecomprising means toadvance such devices in successive order intermittently through aprinting position, two printing mechanisms conjointly operable onsuccessive printing devices, one printing" mechanism having meansoperative to print one portion only of the printing data on the printingdevice and the other printing mechanism having means operative to printanother portion only of the printing data, means to advance asheetthrough the printing position in a step by step manner so that thedata printed by both mechanisms from the same printing device is in thesame. horizontal line on-the-sheet, and means to prevent the printingoperation of one of said mechanisms during the printing operation of theother mechanism.

22.'An addressing machine for'printing in a horizontal'line datacontained in a vertical column on a printing device comprising meanstoadvance such devices in successive order intermittently through a"printing position,'two print ing mechanisms conjointly operable onsuccessive printing devices, one printing mechanism having meansoperative to print one portion only of the printing data 'on theprinting device and the other printing mechanism having means op-"erative to print another portion only of the printing data, means toadvance a sheet through the printing position in a step by step mannerso that the data printed by both mechanisms from the same printingdevice is in the same horizontal line on the. sheet, and means operativeto prevent the printing operation of any one of said,

printing mechanisms while permitting the printing operation of saidother printing means.

- 23. An addressing machine for printing ina horizontal line datacontained in a vertical column on a printing device comprising meanstoadvance such devices in successive order inter mittently through aprinting position, two printing mechanisms conjointly operable onsuccessive printing devices, one printing mechanism having meansoperative to print one portion only of the printing data on the printingdevice and the other printing mechanism having means operative. to printanother portion only of the printing data, means to advance a sheetthrough the printing position in a step by step manner so that the dataprinted by both mechanisms from the same printing device is in the samehorizontal line on the sheet, and means operative to prevent theprinting operation of any one of said printing mechanisms whilepermitting the printing operation of said other printing means, saidlast named means beingselectively operable at the will of an operative.

24. An addressing machine comprising a pair of printing mechanisms,means for advancing a succession of printing devices to said mechanismsand successively from the action of one to' the action of the othermechanism, means for nor mally operating said printing mechanisms con;-jointly upon successive printing devices, and means for disabling theoperation of one printing mechanism while permitting the operation oftheother printing mechanism.

25. An addressing machine comprising a pair of printing mechanisms,means for advancing a succession of printing devices to .said mechanismsand successively from the actionof one-to the other of the other'mechanisms, means for nor-. mally operating said printingmechanismsuconjointly upon successive printing devices; and means fordisabling the operation of one printing mechanism while permitting theoperation'of the other printing mechanism and the operation of saidadvancing means.

26. An addressing machine combination of two printing mechanisms, meansfor advancing a succession of stencils through the action of bothmechanisms and successively from one mechanism to the other mechanism,said mechanisms each comprising a work supporting anvil-reciprocableinto and out of a 'work supporting position, a printing headreciprocable intoandout of work engaging. position, means forselectively disabling the reciprocatory movements of said anvils, andmeans for reciprocating said printing, heads when said anvils are dis-sabled.

27. An addressing machine comprising the combination of a pair ofprinting mechanisms,

means foradvancing printing devices in successive order through saidmechanisms .and theprinting devices in succession from one to the othermechanisms, each mechanism comprisinga work supporting anvilreciprocableinto and out of work supporting position, a printing headreciprocable into and out of work;iengagi.ng position, means forreciprocating said anvils normally conjointly comprising areciprocableshaft, cams on said shaft engageable with said platens, anda clutch mechanism releasably connecting a cam with said shaft, saidclutch mechanisms becomprising the successively 7 through saidmechanisms and in succession fromone to the other mechanism, means foroperating said printing mechanisms normally con-- jointly, and meansincluding a pair of -manually operable control members for effecting theselective disabling of said printing mechanisms.

29. An addressing machine comprising two printing mechanisms, means foradvancing a succession of printing devices successively throughsaidmechanisms and in succession from one to thepther mechanism, meansfor operating said printing mechanisms normally conjointly, and meansincluding a pair of manually operable control members for efiecting theselective disabling of said printing mechanisms independently of saiddevice advancing means.

- 30. An addressing machine comprising the combination of a pair ofprinting mechanisms, meansfor advancing a succession of printing devicesthrough said mechanisms and in succession from oneto" the othermechanism, means for advancing a sheet common to both mechanisms throughsaid mechanisms, means for normally operating said printing mechanismsconjointly, and means including a control member for each printing.mechanism for selectively disabling said printing mechanism.

..-31. An addressing machine including two printing mechanisms, means toadvance a succession of printing devices to the successive.op-' erationof said mechanisms, manually operative means to disable the operation ofsaid printing mechanisms, selected at will, and other manually operatedmeans separately operable to disable the operation of said advancingmeans.

32..:An addressing machine comprising the combination of a pair ofprinting mechanisms,

7 means :to operate said printing mechanisms normally conjointly, meansto advance a succession of printing devices through said printingmechanisms and in succession from one to the other mechanism, manuallycontrolled means to disable the operation of a selected one of both ofsaid printing mechanisms while permitting the operation of the othermechanism, and other manually operable means separately operable todisable the operation of said device advancing means.

33. An addressing machine comprising the combination of two printingmechanisms, means for advancing successive printing devices throughsaid-mechanisms and in succession from one to the other mechanism, eachprinting mechanism comprising an anvil reciprocable into and out of Worksupporting position, a printing head recip-' rocable into'and'out ofwork engaging position, means for reciprocating both printing heads andanvils normally conjointly, manually operable means for disabling theoperation of a selected one of both anvils while'permitting theoperation of the other anvil and both printing heads, and manuallyoperable means for disabling said advancing'means while permitting theoperation of saidprinting mechanisms.

34. An addressing machine of the type operable upon a collection ofprinting devices and having means to support the successive devices inprinting position, the combination therewith and carrier for securingsaid carrier in set position on said rod.

35. A printing machine comprising two sets of pressure applying printingdevices disposed on opposite sides of the stencil and operative topressthe stencil and Work into engagement, means for advancing asuccession of printing devices to the successive actions of said sets,means normally operative to eifect conjoint operation of -both sets ofdevices, and means for preventing operation of one of said devices,whereby to prevent the printing operation of one of said sets ofdevices.

36. A printing machine comprising a pair of printing heads, a commonsupporting structure for both heads, means for operating said structureto efiect a printing operation of said heads, a pair of platenscooperating with said heads, meansfor normally operating said platenswith said heads, and means for preventing normal operation of one ofsaid platens.

37. An addressing machine operating upon a succession of address bearingdevices, said machine including a work supporting anvil disposed on oneside of an address bearing device and normally movable toward and awayfrom cooperative printing relation therewith, a printing head on theother side of said address bearing device movable toward and away fromcooperative printing relation with the .device, means for normallyreciprocating said printing head and anvil conjointly, and means forpreventing the aforesaid movement of said anvil'and for maintaining saidanvil out of cooperative printing relation with a printing device whilepermitting the aforesaid movement of said printing head, whereby toprevent a printing operation on a selected printing device.

38. An addressing machine as in claim 37, the means for preventing themovement of said anvil being controllable at the will of the operative.

HARMON l P. ELLIOTT.

